Julienne finally has some competition in San Marino. Dora Liang opened Sweet & Savory on May 7 in a 750-square foot chunk of stationary store, complete with courtyard seating. The longtime San Marino resident thought there was a need for a more casual, kid-friendly place with al fresco dining. She designed the “modern, chic, non-intimidating” space with a blue and chocolate color scheme. She also added pictures of the street, “so when people walk in, they feel very comfortable because it’s like a window out on the city.”

For breakfast, lunch and takeout dinner, Liang is offering “modern American comfort food,” modernized takes on food that people ate in the ’50s and ’60s. These are all Liang’s recipes, and she recruited a pool of chefs from Le Cordon Bleu to prepare them.

At lunch, the biggest sellers are the cashew curry chicken salad, a variation on Chinese chicken salad called Dora’s Crunchy Chicken Salad, miso-glazed salmon, and a “killer mac and cheese” with Gruyere, Parmigiano and cheddar. You’ll also find single-serving meatloaves with house-made mashed potatoes.

Sweet & Savory also houses a full bakery. “We make the best red velvet cake in town, if not Southern California,” says Liang. “We only make four kinds of cakes. We do a great carrot cake, blackout cake – a special kind of chocolate cake with chocolate pudding in the middle – and a great poundcake with banana. Muffins that are crusty outside and buttery inside.” She also described “coffee cakes that are rich and moist that last you three or four days.” You’ll also find chewy oatmeal cookies with golden raisins, cranberries and apricots. If you’re looking for coffee, they source beans from Intelligentsia.